Transcript LIMITED RESOURCES FORCE US TO CHOOSE

Unit 21 Endangered Species
Endangered Species Act of 1973
Ted Feitshans
ARE 309
021-1
Endangered Species Act
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• http://www.fws.gov
Ted Feitshans
ARE 309
021-2
FWS Activities
• List, reclassify, and delist species under
the ESA
• Biological opinions to other Federal
agencies
• Oversee recovery activities
• Protect important habitat
• Grants to states
Ted Feitshans
ARE 309
021-3
Definitions
• Fish and wildlife
– Mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles,
mollusks, crustaceans, arthropods, other
invertebrates
• Plant
– Any member of the plant kingdom
• Species
– May include subspecies & distinct
populations
Ted Feitshans
ARE 309
021-4
Definitions
• Endangered species
– In danger of becoming extinct over all or
part of its range
• Threatened species
– Likely to become endangered in the
foreseeable future
Ted Feitshans
ARE 309
021-5
Listing Decisions
• Habitat destruction
• Overutilization for commercial,
recreational, or educational purposes
• Disease or predation
• Other natural or man-made factors
Ted Feitshans
ARE 309
021-6
Petitions to list, reclassify,
or delist
• Evaluated upon substantive data
• 90 day evaluation period followed by
publication in the Federal Register
• If positive - status review of the species
Ted Feitshans
ARE 309
021-7
Status review
• Must conclude w/in 12 months of receipt
• Alternative conclusions
– Warranted
– Unwarranted
– Warranted but precluded by higher
priorities
• Costs & benefits not considered
Ted Feitshans
ARE 309
021-8
Designation of Critical
Habitat
• Habitat essential for survival
• Scientific data & economic data
• Designation
– To extent prudent & determinable at the
time of the listing
Ted Feitshans
ARE 309
021-9
Implementation
• Recovery plan
• Impact on landowners
– Habitat conservation management plans
Ted Feitshans
ARE 309
021-10
Conclusions
• Some success
• Controversial
– Habitat approach out of step
• Unintended consequences
• Future approaches?
– Rapid loss of habitat
Ted Feitshans
ARE 309
021-11